MK Party Lodges Complaint Against Cyril Ramaphosa and John Steenhuisen Over USA Visit, SA Amused
- The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party laid a complaint against John Steenhuisen and President Cyril Ramaphosa
- The party is unhappy with the conduct of the duo during a meeting with Donald Trump at the White House in the US
- South Africans shared their thoughts on the MK Party's complaints and its issues with President Ramaphosa
Source: Getty Images
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
WESTERN CAPE – The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is unhappy with the conduct of John Steenhuisen and President Cyril Ramaphosa during their visit to the United States of America in May 2025.
The Minister of Agriculture was part of Ramaphosa’s delegation that met with members of Donald Trump’s administration at the White House. The meeting was to address tensions between the US and South Africa and address claims made by Trump that there was a white genocide taking place.
The MK Party, led by former State President Jacob Zuma, has taken issue with Steenhuisen’s comments during that meeting and has now laid a complaint with Parliament’s Ethics Committee.
Why did the MK party lodge a complaint?
The MK Party lodged a complaint against Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen, accusing them both of misconduct during the White House visit. The party are unhappy with Steenhuisen’s comments about keeping the MK Party out of the government, saying that he used the platform to promote the DA’s agenda during an official government engagement.
The party is also unhappy with Ramaphosa, saying that he just sat and smiled, without correcting or clarifying the minister.
Source: Getty Images
What did Steenhuisen say?
The Agriculture Minister was addressing Trump’s claims about white genocide in the country and speaking about the video played in the White House. Trump shared video footage of Julius Malema and Zuma, using it as proof that a certain section of people were being targeted.
Steenhuisen then explained that they were leaders of opposition minority parties, and it was important that they never became a part of the government.
“The reason that my party, which has been an opposition party, chose to join hands with Mr Ramaphosa’s party was precisely to keep those people out of power. We cannot have those people sitting at the Union Buildings and making decisions,” he said.
The party now wants Steenhuisen to retract his comments and issue a public apology. They want Ramaphosa to also apologise and take responsibility for his failure to address the issue.
The Economic Freedom Fighters were also unhappy with the minister's comments.
How did South Africans react to the news?
Social media users were amused by the party’s latest complaint, saying that it focused more on Ramaphosa than focusing on its own party agendas.
Magetle Mphahleng Makgata stated:
“All their court cases are about Cyril, vele.”
Zithembe Ngobese noted:
“I don’t have a problem with the MKP being one of many political parties in SA. But to me, it seems they’re neglecting their founding principles and main reasons for their existence as a political party. Apparently 99% of their media statements are about Ramaphosa, not about the people of South Africa or rather about the issues affecting the masses. According to me, Zuma established the MK on a personal basis of fighting Ramaposa. People have been fooled into believing the MK represents the masses.
Zubenathi Dlamini said:
“No one must take this MK stokvel seriously.”
Abulele Absa Abu Kufa added:
“The MKP is always looking for an opportunity to trend.”
Dumisani Mbongwa stated:
“MK Party always complain🤣.”
Onikwa Mpumela asked:
“They only know how to complain. What happened to the deadlines they gave Ramaphosa to step down?”
Leonard Ribo Davids added:
“Zuma is obsessed with Ramaphala. He will never forgive and forget about the Zondo commission and arrest🤣.”
MK party not interested in joining coalition government
In a related article, the MK Party responded to reports that the Government of National Unity may be expanded.
The party said it would not join the coalition government, saying that it sold black people out.
Briefly News reported that Steenhuisen said that adding the MK Party to the GNU could complicate the coalition.
Source: Briefly News
